The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-05
Reforming the World.

"Knighthood or Christ" was the subject of
sermon of unusual interest delivered by Rev. G.
T.. McNutt, at Fourth Presbyterian Church
yesterday morning. His text was, THE works
of the flesh are manifest which are these:
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lascivious
ness idoatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emu
lations wrath, strifes, solutions, hereses, envy
ing. murders, drunkenness. revellings, and such
like. But the fruit of the Spirit is
love. joy, peace long euffering gentleness.
goodness. faith, meekness, temperance"
The first part of the text Mr.. McNutt said,
describes the world it is. Every morn
ing the press confirms the truth of the descrip
ton. The daily papers are 800 witnesses that
this is a sln-cursed. suffering world. MIR. Pow
derry is soon to deliver an address on The
World Knghthood Would Make It."
1t is we'll he says would. " 1t is very doubt
full il knigh thood will reform tho world Mr.
Powderly may be honest; he may be a wonder
full organizer he might even gather into
ganization all the manual laborers or the
whit better than it is to-day.
The defect in the plan proposed is radical and
fatal. The idea that the world can be reformed
by legal enactment has been the vain dream of
theorists in all ages. This is the cardinal idea
of knighthood, to reform the world and secure
q social millennium by rewriting constitutions
and statute books The condition of member
ship is not character but occupation. Mr..
Powdery is already confronted with the nev-
liable results of organization on such a basis.
lie is struggling honestly, but hopelessly.
knien. and real knave, the reforming
Influence of kniehthood will be limited. There
Is no leaven in the lump. 1t il still lump.
characterized by s'uncleanness, hatred, strifes.
murders, drunkenness. and such like"
Recognizing the rights of men TO or
game for mutual good, and casting no
stone IN the way of any who would
help his feIlows,r continued the speaker,
we can have no confidence in reformation
tnat makes no attempt to reform the individual
heart IL IS this that Christ, as a reformer of
the world, is doing. The worlds hope of reforma-
tion-tne coming OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES upon
some agency that can change the indi vidual
heart This is peculiarl the work of Jesus
Christie make all men like himself; pure as He
was pure, kind as He kind-'the first true
gentleman that ever walked the earth'-'for
whom he did foreknow, them he also did pre-
of His son. What the world will be- as Christ
will make it, may be known if we can find one
genuine Christian. We Judge a tree by the
ripened fruit, not By the worm eaten insect
stune specimens that fall in the early sum
mer Let us be as honest with
disciple, but bS ripened, chastened. beautiful
manhood in Christ These are prophetic hints
Of the world in Christ. And as individual
hearts are transformed by Christ, the influence
will be felt and seen in the worlds laws and in
situations. The fruits are already seen
little children that has banished infanti cde as a
public crime IL IS the exultation of the individ-
ual soul by Christ that has broken the shackles
of the slave. 1t is the same principle that has
lifted woman from a slave TO a queen. And
the gospel leaven works in the heart. the
formed. The worlds hope is not knighthood.
but Christ